If Ever I Would Leave You by Susan May Warren

About the Book
If you harbored a devastating secret, had given your solemn promise of silence… what would make you to break it?
Ian Shaw can have anything he wants…
...except the woman he loves. After all, Sierra Rose is his amazing assistant, a woman who helps him hold his empire together, leaving him free to pursue his adventurous hobbies—his only distraction from his excruciating past… until now. But what if she is the one who can finally free him from his regrets?
Sierra Rose harbors a terrible secret…
...the fact that Ian’s favorite niece and ward, Esme, just might elope with her less-than-awesome boyfriend. Sierra’s made a promise to Esme—but her first loyalty belongs to her boss Ian, the man she's admired for years. But letting herself fall in love with him risks the best job she’s ever had.
When tragedy strikes, sparks ignite…
...because Esme has vanished. Ian fears the worst--has she run away with her boyfriend? Or, has something more sinister happened in the wilds of Glacier National Park? It's a race against time, with Sierra and Ian caught in the crossfire of secrets, regrets and what-ifs.

My Thoughts

I had a bit of mixed feelings about this novella. On one hand, like everything Susan May Warren has written, I loved it. But on the other hand the way it ended left me a little frustrated. You see while the entire novella was really good the story ended without anything being resolved. And while I realize it's because the rest of their story takes place in the series this novella was a prequel for, I still want to know what happens! 

That aside, the characters were great and I especially loved meeting Ian and Sierra. They're one of those couples that has feelings for each other but neither will admit it for fear of ruining the relationship they already have. I was rooting for them to finally just tell each other. Esme was a well written character too, your typical teen not always thinking everything through. 

The mystery of what happened to Esme when she disappeared was extremely intriguing and I desperately wanted to figure it out! But like I said at the beginning of this review, nothing got resolved so as I read the last sentence of this book I still had no clue where Esme was and Ian and Sierra's relationship was at pretty much the same place. And I need to know so I was quite happy that I already had Wild Montana Skies to dive into next!

**Full disclosure, I'm now fairly certain after finishing book one in this series that we'll have to wait till the last book to figure the mystery of Esme's disappearance and find out if Ian and Sierra ever get together! But don't let that stop you from enjoying these stories now!

Meet the Author

With over 1 million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA and Carol award-winning author of over forty-five novels with Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic-suspense, thrillers, rom-com and Christmas novellas. 

With books translated into eight languages, many of her novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. She’s a three time RITA finalist and an eight time Christy Finalist.

Of her books, Publisher’s Weekly has written, “Warren lays bare her characters’ human frailties, including fear, grief, and resentment, as openly as she details their virtues of love, devotion, and resiliency. She has crafted an engaging tale of romance, rivalry, and the power of forgiveness.” 

And Library Journal adds, “Warren's characters are well-developed and she knows how to create a first rate contemporary romance…” 

Susan is also a nationally acclaimed writing coach, teaching at conferences around the nation and winner of the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Mentor of the Year award. She loves to help people launch their writing careers and is the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com and www.LearnHowtoWriteaNovel.com, a writing website that helps authors get published and stay published. She’s also the author of the popular writing method, The Story Equation.